Surrey Heath

Surrey Heath's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 86,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Surrey Heath increased by 7.3%, from just over 80,300 to 86,100.

The addition of about 5,800 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Surrey Heath was home to, on average, 6.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Surrey Heath

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Surrey Heath increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This affluent suburban area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,200 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 17% of people in Surrey Heath are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Surrey Heath by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Surrey Heath, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas across England, except Barnsley.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 7.2% to 4.4%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) in Surrey Heath said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 5.3% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 77% to 87%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad occurred in Wokingham (from 4.6% to 2.8%).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Surrey Heath decreased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Surrey Heath, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Surrey Heath

The percentage of Surrey Heath residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.9% to 2.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.8%, while the percentage of Surrey Heath residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Surrey Heath

The number of people in Surrey Heath that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 11,000 in 2001 to just under 21,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 24% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Surrey Heath that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 61,000 in 2001 to about 55,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 5,300 to about 6,200 (from 6.7% to 7.2%).

About 1,600 people (1.2%) said they were Muslim, up from about 940 in 2001 (1.9%).

The population without a religion in Surrey Heath increased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Surrey Heath by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Surrey Heath

The number of people in Surrey Heath from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,000 in 2001 to about 5,400 in 2011. This represents a change from 2.5% to 6.3% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 2.6% to 5.0%) and the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Surrey Heath from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 77,000 in 2001 to just under 78,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 90%. The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 860 to just over 1,600 (from 1.1% to 1.9%).

Just over 860 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 330 in 2001 (1.0%).

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Surrey Heath increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Surrey Heath by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Surrey Heath, but at a slower rate than in Woking (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Surrey Heath).

In Surrey Heath, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.6% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Woking increased from 9.4% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Surrey Heath remained close to 9.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 81% to 77%.

Private renting in Surrey Heath increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Surrey Heath, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Surrey Heath working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Surrey Heath decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Surrey Heath, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Surrey Heath

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Surrey Heath, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Surrey Heath, the proportion of single people increased from 25% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Surrey Heath fell from 59% to 56%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.0% to 10%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Surrey Heath residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of Surrey Heath residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Surrey Heath increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Surrey Heath, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Surrey Heath with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 11% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 32%, while the percentage of households in Surrey Heath without children decreased from 58% to 57%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Surrey Heath, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.7% to 7.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44%) households had a married couple, compared with 47% in 2001. The percentage of households in Surrey Heath, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Surrey Heath residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.5% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Surrey Heath remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Surrey Heath by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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